[Sativa]

Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement officials announced Wednesday the largest marijuana seizure in the department’s history.

On Sunday evening on Interstate 65 in Warren County, an officer stopped a northbound tractor-trailer, which turned out to have more than 1,400 pounds of marijuana with a street value of about $2.8 million, according to a KVE press release.

The truck was headed from Houston to Cleveland, Lt. Greg Jenkins said. The truck was stopped for a safety inspection, but the officer grew suspicious as he conversed with the men. Then, one of the men took the key to the trailer off his key ring and tossed it on the roof, Jenkins said. “That was a major red flag,” he said.

A K-9 dog was called in and smelled the drugs. Two men, Kermit Garriques, 48, and Uriel Bell, 42, were arrested and charged with marijuana trafficking and possession of narcotics with intent to distribute. Both men are originally from Jamaica. Garriques is a U.S. citizen and Bell is a resident alien, Jenkins said.

The previous KVE record for a marijuana seizure is 1,380 pounds found on Jan. 30, 2006, near London on Interstate 75.



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Source: Kentucky.com
Author: Steve Lannen
Contact: slannen@herald-leader.com
Copyright: Kentucky.com
Website: Kentucky.com | 05/30/2007 | Vehicle enforcement officers seize record amount of marijuana